Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I do not have a script and will be speaking on issues beyond the immediate remit of the Office of Public Works.

I express my deep sympathy to all those whose lives have been inconvenienced, devastated and disrupted by the flooding, the most intense and extensive I can recall. I managed to visit some of the areas concerned, including counties Clare, Galway and Tipperary, and have seen first hand the damage and trauma caused by the flooding and the magnificent efforts of the emergency services, including local authorities, the Defence Forces, Civil Defence, the Garda Síochana and local volunteers. I pay tribute also to the role played by the media in communication and to public representatives in the affected areas who have been an important point of contact for families and communities in difficulty. I thank the trade union members who did not strike yesterday because they were involved in the rescue operation. The OPW regional headquarters in Limerick and Headford remained open yesterday.

Severe weather events are likely to become more frequent, which underlines the importance of establishing a national flood warning system. There are some flood warning systems in place - on the Suir and Blackwater - which measure water levels upstream of places likely to be badly affected, thus ensuring places such as Clonmel, Mallow and Fermoy are given several hours notice of flooding and time to erect demountable barriers. In Mallow, where demountable barriers were erected for the first time, the operation worked well.

Two websites, a flood hazard maps website, www.floodmaps.ie and www.flooding.ie , provide practical advice on how in particular areas people can contact the authorities, depending on the nature of the problem. We will be carrying out - this was the intention prior to the current floods - a flood risk assessment and management study of the entire country during the next six years. This study has commenced in particular areas. For example, a catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, study of the River Lee will deal with issues arising in regard to the Inishcarra dam. It is generally accepted that water had to be released and the issues that arose related to the controlled release of water. I note that, in so far as is possible, a controlled release of water at the weir in Ardnacrusha is taking place.

Pilot studies are also being carried out on the River Dodder, River Suir and in the Fingal-east Meath area. There is now more understanding of the need for planning guidelines if we are to prevent, as far as possible, building on flood plains. There is little doubt that decisions taken in the context of providing housing as part of the process of urbanisation have, perhaps, contributed to the problems we face. I expressed the personal view last night that we needed to become more discriminating. I accept that in some instances they are needed for pollution control purposes but we will need to examine further the issue of the blanket concreting of yards, gardens, drives and so on, which reduces water absorption capacity. I get the impression that some planning authorities do not take seriously the importance of not allowing development on flood plains. This also extends to An Bord Pleanála. There is also a balance to be struck or perhaps struck again between protecting other aspects of the environment, such as fauna, flora and so forth, and clearing streams, drains and waterways. That said, no amount of cleaning of drains and waterways would have prevented the flooding we have experienced over recent days. It is not a panacea and does not make other measures redundant.

There are a number of major flood work schemes in progress at present. I mentioned Mallow north, which is complete, and Clonmel west, which unfortunately was not quite complete. While that area was not impacted nearly as badly as previously, there was still some impact. Work on Ennis upper is also substantially complete. A scheme is just beginning in Fermoy but it is too soon for it to have any impact. Work in Carlow is due to start at the beginning of next year and the first phase of Waterford is nearly complete. Studies have been conducted in Templemore and Enniscorthy. There is still an argument about dredging versus walls. The Clonmel scheme was delayed for several years because people did not want dredging for environmental reasons and wanted walls, while in Enniscorthy the objections are to walls and people want dredging. Our policy is to try to get a reasonable degree of agreement. We cannot simply impose a diktat on local communities. Some of the comments made outside this House suggest there should be one dictatorial authority that simply imposes whatever needs to be done. I do not believe we can proceed in that way but everybody concerned will realise the urgency that exists and that we must look again at some of our assumptions.

We are also well advanced in planning work for Bray and Arklow. We have spent €190 million on capital projects since 1996 and €100 million in the last five years. We will spend €38 million this year and we will know in a couple of weeks the budget for next year. On the basis of statements made by the Taoiseach and other senior Ministers, I am confident there will be an adequate budget to carry out necessary works. Obviously, this issue is not all about big schemes, although they play a part. Important recommendations will no doubt emerge from the Lee CFRAM study relating to Cork and we will have to examine carefully the situation in Ballinasloe. I expect there will be a flood of applications, if Members will excuse the pun, from local authorities for assistance.

In the middle of this year we introduced a minor works scheme and I announced a tranche of projects throughout the country two or three weeks ago. There might be other projects that could be done before the end of this calendar and budget year but there will be a new programme next year. Several Members of the Oireachtas have told me they have been in touch with their county councils about sending in applications.

With regard to the assistance announced yesterday, there is an initial scheme, as the Taoiseach described it, of €10 million additional humanitarian assistance to be channelled through the community welfare officer who has discretion under existing schemes. I observed that system at close quarters in Clonmel last January and it can work very well without overly onerous or bureaucratic means tests. There is also a farm relief project. Some farmers have been very badly affected in terms of loss of animals and loss of fodder. A small scheme has been put in place to deal with that. We will see what the level of applications is as the waters recede. There are also issues relating to bank credit. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will discuss that matter with representatives of small firms today.

There are similar issues with regard to how the insurance industry will deal with matters. There are two situations for the insurance industry. Places that have not been hit for decades by floods, probably most homes and businesses, are insured. However, there are limited parts of towns such as Clonmel which are and for a long time have been passed as uninsurable. That will be examined. There is also the question of whether any EU aid will be available. My understanding is that there must a high threshold of damage before that can come into play. On the other hand, the EU has been anxious to play its part in many other situations by showing solidarity. Exploratory discussions are taking place in Brussels. Repairs to flood defences, roads, bridges and other infrastructure are an essential priority. Depending on the location and the damage, that will be a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the local authority or, in certain instances, the Office of Public Works.

Critical repairs are being carried out to water supplies in many areas of Cork. It is hoped the waterworks will be back at full production capacity before next Sunday, 29 November, although it might take an additional two to three days to return the distribution system for drinking water to normal. Emergency drinking water and sanitary water will continue to be made available at 55 locations in the city until water supplies are satisfactorily restored. In the Cork area, as in the east Galway and north Clare area, the relevant authorities will have to conduct a hard examination of what has happened to see what can be done to prevent further flooding, certainly on the scale that occurred on this occasion. We must examine where there are gaps in our systems and defences and assess the future threat.

Consider what happened in Cockermouth in Cumbria, just below the Scottish border. The town had constructed defences to withstand a one in 100 year flood, which is what we usually do, and they were completely overpowered by 12 inches of rainfall in 24 hours. The schemes we are constructing can be added to at relatively little cost. The greater the height, the less aesthetically pleasing, so we must make judgments as we go along.

I have visited some parts of the country and hope to visit others in the next week to ten days, including Athlone, Cork and Carrick-on-Shannon. As an aid, it is important to see and discuss the problems. Our regional engineers on the ground are in constant touch and have provided back-up technical assistance and pumps to local authorities. I pay tribute to all those who have been working hard to mitigate the damage. Touch wood, we can be thankful that no life has been lost so far.

Since entering office, I have regarded flood relief and prevention as priorities, which is clear to the public and my colleagues in the Government. We will be able to do what needs to be done, although much cannot be done overnight. In many areas, local initiatives have constructed temporary defences, sometimes with a bit of advice. In some instances, these have mitigated the problem and worked well.

I look forward to hearing the views of Senators and assure them the OPW and other Departments and authorities will take their comments into account.